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Migrate from DatoCMS to Next.js

Complete guide to migrating your DatoCMS website to Next.js. Leave DatoCMS's graphql-only can be a barrier for teams unfamiliar with it behind and get hybrid rendering. Free migration tool included.

20-40 minutes

Medium

100% Free

Start Free Migration

TL;DR

You can migrate from DatoCMS to Next.js for free using LeaveWP. Enter your site URL, choose Next.js as the destination, and download your content — posts, pages, and media — in minutes. No API keys, passwords, or CLI tools required. Difficulty: Medium. Estimated time: 20-40 minutes.

Official docs: Next.js Documentation

Not sure yet? Read our DatoCMS vs Next.js comparison first.

Why Teams Leave DatoCMS

GraphQL headless CMS with image optimization built in. JAMstack teams wanting a GraphQL CMS with best-in-class image handling, but these limitations push teams toward modern alternatives.

GraphQL-only can be a barrier for teams unfamiliar with it

This is the most common reason teams migrate away from DatoCMS. Next.js eliminates this issue entirely.

Free tier is limited; mid-tier pricing is expensive

With Next.js, hybrid rendering — ssg, ssr, isr, and client-side in one app.

Smaller community compared to Contentful or Strapi

Modern architectures like Next.js are designed to avoid this from the ground up.

Content migration to/from DatoCMS requires custom tooling

After migrating, you'll no longer need to worry about this — Next.js takes a fundamentally different approach.

What Next.js Brings to the Table

React framework for production with SSR, SSG, and API routes. Built with JavaScript/TypeScript (React), it's production web apps and content sites needing flexible rendering strategies.

Hybrid rendering — SSG, SSR, ISR, and client-side in one app

Most popular React framework with massive community

Built-in image optimization, API routes, and middleware

Optimized for Vercel but deploys anywhere (Node.js, Docker)

Next.js is open-source and free to use. You own your code and data with no vendor lock-in. Deploy to any host that supports JavaScript/TypeScript, or use managed platforms like Vercel and Netlify for zero-config deployments.

DatoCMS vs Next.js at a Glance

Side-by-side comparison based on real platform characteristics

Metric	DatoCMS	Next.js
Ease of Use	⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5	⭐⭐⭐ 3/5
Performance	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
Flexibility	⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
Cost	⭐⭐ 2/5	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
Scalability	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
Ecosystem	⭐⭐⭐ 3/5	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
Language	API-based (GraphQL-first)	JavaScript/TypeScript (React)
Pricing	Free / $99+/month	Free (open-source)
Open Source	No	Yes

Ratings are based on publicly available data, documentation, and community consensus as of 2026. Individual experience may vary.

What Gets Migrated

A detailed breakdown of how your DatoCMS content maps to Next.js

Content Types from DatoCMS

records
models
uploads
sites

Technical Details

Export Method: Content Management API (GraphQL)
Source Language: API-based (GraphQL-first)
Destination Format: Markdown/MDX files with frontmatter, organized by content type
URL Handling: 301 redirect map generated automatically to preserve SEO equity

What may need manual attention

Custom server-side logic, third-party integrations, and platform-specific plugins will need equivalent solutions in Next.js. The core content (text, images, metadata) transfers cleanly.

How It Works

Migrate your content in three simple steps

Connect

Enter your DatoCMS site URL — LeaveWP connects automatically.

Configure

Select Next.js as destination and choose content options.

Export

Download your migrated content or preview it in your browser.

Is DatoCMS to Next.js the Right Move for You?

Migrating from DatoCMS to Next.js makes the most sense if you're experiencing graphql-only can be a barrier for teams unfamiliar with it or outgrowing DatoCMS's architecture. Next.js is best for production web apps and content sites needing flexible rendering strategies.

You should migrate if: your DatoCMS site is slow, your hosting costs are climbing, you need developer flexibility, or you want to adopt a modern JAMstack architecture.

You might want to stay if: your DatoCMS site benefits from built-in image optimization and responsive image api and you don't have JavaScript/TypeScript developers on your team. DatoCMS is genuinely easy to use, and that simplicity has value.

The migration itself is straightforward with LeaveWP — enter your DatoCMS URL, select Next.js, and download your content. The more important question is whether Next.js's architecture fits your team's skills and your project's long-term needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to migrate from DatoCMS to Next.js?

Most migrations from DatoCMS complete in 20-40 minutes. We pull content via DatoCMS's Content Management API (GraphQL), then structured for Next.js. Complex sites with extensive custom fields may take longer.

Will I lose my SEO rankings when migrating from DatoCMS?

No. We help you set up proper 301 redirects from your old DatoCMS URLs to preserve search rankings. Next.js actually tends to improve Core Web Vitals scores, which can boost rankings over time.

What DatoCMS content can be migrated to Next.js?

DatoCMS content types like records, models, uploads, sites are all migrated to Next.js. Content is converted to Markdown/MDX files or structured for your chosen headless CMS.

Do I need JavaScript/TypeScript experience to migrate?

No coding experience is required for the migration itself — LeaveWP handles the export and conversion automatically. However, customizing your Next.js site afterward will benefit from JavaScript/TypeScript (React) knowledge. For teams without that expertise, the generated code is well-structured and documented, making it approachable for developers of any level.

How much does it cost to host a Next.js site after migrating from DatoCMS?

Next.js sites can be deployed to Vercel, Netlify, Cloudflare Pages, or any Node.js host — often on generous free tiers. Compared to DatoCMS's Free / $99+/month pricing, static Next.js sites can be hosted for free on Vercel or Netlify (up to generous bandwidth limits), which is significantly cheaper than running a DatoCMS instance.

Can I migrate DatoCMS custom fields and metadata to Next.js?

Yes. Custom fields, metadata, and taxonomies from DatoCMS are preserved during migration. In Next.js, these become frontmatter fields in your Markdown/MDX files, which you can extend or restructure to fit your content model.